Kotaro Hirano
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined Hitachi Construction Machinery in April 1981, became Executive Officer in April 2014 and Vice President and Executive Officer in April 2016. In April 2017, 36 years after joining, he became President, Representative Executive Officer. In the fiscal year ended March 2015, two years before he took office, Hitachi was the largest shareholder with 50.23%, and the rest of the top ten were trust banks and securities firms. He was president of a subsidiary majority-owned by its parent, a role that meant handling relations with the parent without holding capital himself.
Selection
In April 2017 he succeeded Yuichi Tsujimoto as President, Representative Executive Officer. In the fiscal year ended March 2017, the year before he took office, consolidated net sales were ¥753.9 billion and operating income ¥23.6 billion, having shrunk two years in a row from ¥815.7 billion and ¥63.1 billion in FY ended March 2015. He was promoted directly from Vice President and Executive Officer heading the Business Management Group, where he had overseen company-wide profitability. The appointment appears to have been meant to have him restore declining earnings.
Initiatives
In his first year, the fiscal year ended March 2018, consolidated net sales recovered to ¥959.1 billion and operating income to ¥95.7 billion from ¥753.9 billion and ¥23.6 billion the year before. In 2022 the parent Hitachi sold 26% of the shares it held, and the top shareholder position passed to a consortium of ITOCHU and Japan Industrial Partners. This appears to have laid the groundwork for expanding sales channels beyond the group. In his final year, FY ended March 2023, consolidated net sales were ¥1,264.9 billion and operating income ¥135.7 billion, both the highest of his tenure.
Career
Career
Hitachi Construction Machinery
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1981 | Joined |
| Apr 2014 | Corporate Executive Officer |
| Apr 2016 | Managing Corporate Executive Officer |
| Apr 2017 | Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President |
| Jun 2017 | Director |
| Apr 2023 | Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman |
| Apr 2023 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 日立建機 有価証券報告書【役員の状況】